Accidentally on Purpose – Idiom of the Day for IELTS Speaking

Using idioms naturally in the IELTS Speaking test can significantly boost your Lexical Resource score. Today’s idiom, “Accidentally on Purpose,” helps you describe actions done intentionally but disguised as mistakes. This blog provides clear explanations, practical examples, exercises, and a sample answer to help you use this idiom confidently and improve your speaking score.

Meaning of Accidentally on Purpose

• Definition: If you do something accidentally on purpose, you intend to do it but pretend that it was an accident.
• Examples: “I accidentally on purpose erased my teacher’s email address, so I couldn’t contact her again.” “If I accidentally on purpose forget to bring her address with us, we won’t be able to visit her after all.”
• This idiom is often used to describe playful or strategic actions where someone pretends to make a mistake to achieve a specific goal.

Usage of Accidentally on Purpose in Context

Here are some example sentences showing how the idiom is used in the IELTS Speaking: 

• “He spilled coffee on the report accidentally on purpose to avoid submitting it on time.”
• “I left my homework at home accidentally on purpose because I needed an excuse for not doing it.”
• “Sometimes, children break small rules accidentally on purpose to test boundaries.”

Pro Tip: Use this idiom when describing intentional mistakes, playful tricks, or clever strategies in your IELTS Speaking Parts 2 or 3 answers.

When to Use the Idiom “Accidentally on Purpose”

You can use this idiom in IELTS Speaking Part 1, Part 2, or IELTS Speaking Part 3 when:

• Playful actions: “My younger brother hides my things accidentally on purpose just to annoy me.”
• Avoiding responsibilities: “I accidentally on purpose missed the meeting to focus on my studies.”
• Strategic mistakes: “She answered the question incorrectly accidentally on purpose to make the discussion interesting.”

Sample Answer Using “Accidentally on Purpose”

IELTS Speaking Part 2 – Describe a time when you or someone else did something intentionally but pretended it was by mistake

Once, I wanted to avoid attending a group project meeting because I had a lot of other work. I accidentally on purpose spilled some water on my notebook, which made it impossible for me to participate that day. I pretended it was an accident, but in reality, I planned it to focus on my other assignments. Although it was a small act, it taught me the importance of managing time effectively.

IELTS Vocabulary Tip for “Accidentally on Purpose”

Using idioms like accidentally on purpose makes your speech sound more natural, fluent, and flexible. It is particularly effective when describing situations where someone acts intentionally but hides their true motive. This can help you impress the examiner and demonstrate a higher level of English proficiency.

Exercise 1: Choose the Correct Option

Select the correct sentence that uses “accidentally on purpose” appropriately:

a) I accidentally on purpose broke my phone to buy a new one.
b) I accidentally on purpose broke my phone to listen to music.
Correct Answer: a) I accidentally on purpose broke my phone to buy a new one.

a) She left the door open accidentally on purpose to see if anyone would notice.
b) She left the door open accidentally on purpose because she forgot the key.
Correct Answer: a) She left the door open accidentally on purpose to see if anyone would notice.

a) He deleted the files accidentally on purpose to avoid extra work.
b) He deleted the files accidentally on purpose by mistake.
Correct Answer: a) He deleted the files accidentally on purpose to avoid extra work.

Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with “accidentally on purpose.”

1. I __________ forgot to reply to the email because I wanted more time to think.
   Answer: accidentally on purpose

2. She __________ hid the homework to make the teacher check everyone else’s work first.
   Answer: accidentally on purpose

3. They __________ spilled the juice to create a distraction during the game.
   Answer: accidentally on purpose

4. He __________ left the window open to let the cat escape.
   Answer: accidentally on purpose

5. I __________ ignored the message because I needed some time to decide.
   Answer: accidentally on purpose

In summary, the idiom “Accidentally on Purpose” is a useful expression to make your IELTS Speaking answers sound more natural and fluent. This blog has provided its meaning, real-life examples, exercises, and a sample answer to help you practice effectively and boost your exam performance. Be careful when using idioms in your IELTS Speaking test. Only use expressions you fully understand and have seen used in context. Using idioms incorrectly can make your speech sound awkward or memorized.  

Also Check: 

• 21+ Tips On How to Improve Your IELTS Writing Band Score
• IELTS Exam Preparation Tips for Band Score of 8+
• IELTS Writing Task 1 Connectors
• 10 Useful IELTS Speaking Tips to Impress the Examiner
• Useful Idioms for IELTS Speaking to Score Band 8.0+